Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-01-08


Statistics show that one half the TO
bacco crop even under tho present wal
tax OIL It is consumed by our people
and II the tax on it we're abolished
there would soon be home market
Tor at least three fourth of our crop,
and the consequent scarcity for ship
ping leaf would reasonably give us al
leasta higher average by two dollars,
iinot more, on every hundred pounds.
Then If It's true that the producers
would realize two cents pound more
by the adjustment OF the tax on TO-
bacco, it is also true that by it they are
annually robbed OF eight or ten million
OF dollars, and in the period of twenty
years this war tax, has robbed the toll.
ers in the tobacco patch fnot less than
two hundred million of dollars. Such
a theft justifies decapitation of the
thief.
Inc nome consumers in the cotton
states and in wheat and cotton states
west OF the Missippi river can best be
retained as consumers OF our tobacco
by removal Of said tax, because they
will then get it at prices at which their
low price cotton and wheat will enable
them to buy from us. Whereas, If the
present tax remains on it, the monopo-
listic manufacturers will continue to
sell 1T to them at such high rates, that
the low prices OF cotton and wheat will
force them to use less of our tobacco
and to gradually grow tobacco for their
own use, as is now being done in parts
OF Louisiana.
Ah, says some Internal Revenue
collector, but tobacco is luxury. They
know that il the tax is removed, they
cease to be pampered officials, and that
they will have to return to the same
obscurity occupied by other men OF
like capacity.
AS before remarked, tobacco is an
agricultural necessity TO farmers in
large districts OF several states, and this
statement is abundantly substantisted
BY numbers OF experlmenters living in
tobacco districts. who have abandoned
tobacco culture, and as many as have
done so, have found it necessary to 20
back toits culture. Agricultural apt
itudes and necessities are defined by
of soils and climatic infu-
ences, and the people in said tobacco
district to be prosperous must grow
tobacco
Men who know what work is say
they had rather go to their daily task
without breakfast than without to-
bacco. Tobacco is their only solace.
it tranquilizes their nerves, diverts
their thoughts from much that is disa-
greeable in their surroundings, and its
soothing influences, sustain their
physical and exhilerates their mental
forces, and the man who would rob the
laboring man OF this essential to his
is william and he who would
tax it is tyrant.
All agree that heavy tax on an ar
.icle causes less OF it to be used. All
agree that any tax causing less of it to
be used, lessons the market value of !
he article, all agree that tobacco is
axed and therefore tobacco sells for
ess from the producers than the pro-
lucers would get for their tobacco if
t were not taxed.
Then is it fair-is it right, is it just
hat the impoverished tobacco growers
If the United States, white and black
hall be longer wronged and swindled
W this war-born tax on the product OF
heir labor, which robs them year by
ear of millions OF dollars, not one
ent of which is needed by the govern
nent?
Certain this is villainous tax, and
must be repealed, and in order to it's
epeal let us all who are tobacco grow
RS meet in our respective counties
all the tobacco districts,
uring the next month, and urge our
espective Representatives during this
ession to exile this felonious robber
rom our land. A. ]. w. Is
Trenton, KY, Jan. Sth, 1887.
A DOUBLE WEDDING.